Aggravated DUI Attorney in Wyoming
More Felony DUI Cases Handled Than Any Other Wyoming Private Practice Attorney
An aggravated DUI in Wyoming isn’t simply a standard DUI with a steeper fine. When specific statutory factors under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-233 are present at the time of the offense, the charge triggers mandatory minimum jail sentences, elevated fines, extended license consequences, and in cases involving injury, felony exposure that exists even on a first offense. The stakes are categorically different from a standard DUI.
R. Michael Vang P.C. dedicates approximately 90% of its practice to defending those accused of impaired driving. Mr. Vang has handled more felony DUI and aggravated vehicular homicide cases than any other attorney in private practice in Wyoming, has taken more than 100 criminal jury trials to verdict, and holds forensic science credentials that are directly relevant to how aggravated DUI cases are decided.
If you’re facing an aggravated DUI charge in Wyoming, call R. Michael Vang P.C. today at (307) 336-7570 for a free initial consultation.
What Makes a DUI Aggravated Under Wyoming Law
Wyoming statutes use both “DUI” and “DWUI” (Driving While Under the Influence) in different official contexts. Wyo. Stat. 31-5-233, the controlling aggravated DUI statute, uses the term “DUI.” Four specific factors under that statute elevate a standard charge to an aggravated one, and each factor directly controls the minimum sentence a court must impose.
The four aggravating factors are:
- BAC of 0.15% or higher at the time of the offense, regardless of prior record
- A passenger under age 16 in the vehicle at the time of the offense
- Serious bodily injury to another person, which under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-233(h) includes unconsciousness, a concussion with protracted impairment, second- or third-degree burns over a significant area, or a significant bone fracture
- Prior DUI convictions within Wyoming’s 10-year lookback period
A DUI resulting in death may be charged as aggravated homicide-by-vehicle under Wyo. Stat. 6-2-106, a separate felony carrying up to 20 years in prison.
Penalties for an Aggravated DUI Conviction in Wyoming
Penalties vary based on which aggravating factor applies, but all carry serious consequences. A first conviction with a BAC of 0.15% or greater carries fines up to $750, a 90-day license suspension, and a required six-month ignition interlock device (IID). A DUI involving a child passenger under 16 carries up to one year in jail on a first offense and up to five years on a second offense involving a child passenger. A DUI causing serious bodily injury is a felony on the first offense, carrying up to 10 years in prison and fines between $2,000 and $5,000; a second such offense can result in up to 20 years in prison.
Collateral consequences extend well beyond the courtroom:
- Professional license suspension or revocation
- Employment consequences, particularly in fields requiring background checks
- Restrictions on international travel
- Impact on graduate or professional school admissions
- Immigration consequences for non-citizens
A DUI arrest also triggers a separate administrative process. Wyoming drivers have 20 days from the date of the notice of suspension to request a hearing before the Wyoming Office of Administrative Hearings. Without that request, the suspension proceeds automatically. Because the criminal and administrative processes run on separate timelines, early legal action affects both.
Why R. Michael Vang P.C. Handles Aggravated DUI Cases Differently
Aggravated DUI cases are often decided by scientific evidence: BAC test results, breathalyzer calibration records, blood draw chain of custody, and field sobriety test administration. An attorney who understands the underlying forensic science can challenge these elements at a level a general criminal defense attorney cannot.
Forensic Science Credentials
Mr. Vang holds the Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation from the Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society, awarded June 13, 2015. He is the only Wyoming attorney to have completed the Axion Forensic Chromatography class, the Axion Forensic Drug Analysis class, and the Axion Forensic Driving Under the Influence of Drugs class. These credentials allow him to evaluate breathalyzer calibration, identify chain of custody breakdowns in blood testing, and assess whether individual factors such as food consumption, medication, or health conditions may have affected a BAC reading.
National Recognition in DUI Defense
Mr. Vang received the National College of DUI Defense Trial Advocacy Award on July 14, 2022, given to the NCDD member who most personifies its mission through aggressive, creative, and ethical trial practice dedicated to defending those accused of impaired driving. He serves as Co-Chairperson of the NCDD Amici and Research Committee, is a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, and holds membership in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the International Association of Chemical Testing.
Teaching, Appellate Work, & Trial Record
Mr. Vang has been teaching other attorneys DUI defense law for more than 25 years, through organizations including the Wyoming State Bar Association, the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, and the National College of DUI Defense. His 36 reported cases before the Wyoming Supreme Court reflect a practice built on raising and resolving the hard legal questions in DUI defense across Wyoming.
Protect Your License & Your Future
The 20-day window to request an administrative hearing before the Wyoming Office of Administrative Hearings begins running the day you receive your notice of suspension. Missing that deadline means the suspension proceeds automatically, independent of how the criminal case unfolds.
R. Michael Vang P.C. offers free initial consultations for those facing aggravated DUI charges across Wyoming. Call (307) 336-7570 or reach out online to speak with an aggravated DUI lawyer in Wyoming before that window closes.
Forensic Science Credentials Applied to Aggravated DUI Defense
Most aggravated DUI cases rise or fall on BAC evidence. The ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation held by Mr. Vang, recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society, means he evaluates breathalyzer calibration records, blood test methodology, and laboratory protocols with the rigor of a forensic scientist. That credential is rare. In Wyoming, no other practicing DUI defense attorney holds it alongside the courtroom record Mr. Vang brings.
His teaching work through the Wyoming State Bar Association, the National College of DUI Defense, and other national organizations means his defense strategies reflect current developments in DUI science and case law, not approaches that were standard a decade ago. He’s handled more felony DUI and aggravated vehicular homicide cases than any other attorney in private practice in Wyoming, is admitted to practice in all Wyoming state and federal courts, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court, and carries Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review and Avvo 10.0 ratings.
Defense Strategies for Aggravated DUI Charges in Wyoming
Every aggravated DUI charge rests on a chain of evidence, and each link in that chain can be examined. If the evidence supporting an aggravating factor is successfully challenged, a charge may be reduced to a standard DUI or another offense, significantly changing the sentencing exposure. No outcome can be promised, but the strength of the defense built at each stage shapes what options remain available.
Defense angles examined in aggravated DUI cases include:
- Validity of the traffic stop: whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to initiate contact
- Breathalyzer calibration and maintenance records: whether the instrument was properly certified and maintained at the time of the test
- Blood draw chain of custody: whether proper protocols were followed from collection through laboratory analysis
- Rising BAC defense: whether the driver’s BAC was below 0.15% at the time of driving but tested higher afterward due to the absorption curve
- Field sobriety test administration: whether tests were conducted in accordance with established standards
- Evidence supporting the aggravating factor itself: whether the specific element elevating the charge can withstand scrutiny
Wyoming’s implied consent law under Wyo. Stat. 31-6-102 deems all drivers to have consented to chemical testing. Unlike many other states, Wyoming doesn’t impose automatic administrative penalties for refusing a warrantless test, but an officer may seek a warrant to compel a blood sample. Understanding that distinction matters when evaluating the evidentiary record.
The firm also guides clients through the administrative license hearing process before the Wyoming Office of Administrative Hearings. Plea negotiations in appropriate cases may result in reduced charges such as reckless driving, alternative sentencing arrangements, or outcomes that avoid mandatory minimum jail time. What’s achievable depends on the specific evidence and how the defense is constructed from the first appearance forward.
Mr. Vang has obtained numerous acquittals across Wyoming and has taken more than 100 criminal jury trials to verdict. For those seeking an aggravated DUI attorney in Wyoming with the forensic background to challenge the science and the trial record to see a case through to verdict, call R. Michael Vang P.C. at (307) 336-7570 for a free consultation.
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“Mr. Vang is an outstanding attorney.”
Fighting to Protect Your Rights
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Teaches Other Attorneys DUI Law
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Over 27 Years of Experience
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Initial Consultation is Always Free
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Specializes in Criminal & DUI Cases